Game apparatus



[No Model.)

J. P. MORRIS.

GAME APPARATUS.

N0. 555,220. Patented Feb. 25, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. MORRIS, OF ALTOONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 555,220, dated February 25, 1896.

A li ati fil dDecember 28, 1895. Serial No. 573,664. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. MORRIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altoona, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The present invention has relation to that class of parlor-games in which a game-board is used and a plurality of marbles or balls; and it consists in a game apparatus constructed substantially as shown in the drawings, and hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents a top plan view of my improved game apparatus; Fig. 2, a longitudinal vertical central section; Fig. 3, a detail perspective view of the central portion of the apparatus.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the board, which is of circular form and has connected to its edge a metal band B, which band is of such width as to extend above the upper surface of the board to form a rim or flange a to prevent the balls used in the game from rolling 01f the board. The edge of the metal band B is bent down upon itself, as shown at b, to prevent the sharp edge of the metal being exposed or to form a smooth rounded edged. At the center of the board is a straight-sided cavity 0, the bottom thereof being below the upper surface of the board A, so as to present a shoulder c at the sides of the cavity to prevent the balls from rolling out of the cavity when the balls are projected therein.

The cavity C is surrounded by a wall D, preferably of sheet metal, which is secured in place by headed pins (1, the heads of which engage with overlapping flanges project-ing from the inner sides of the wall, thus holding the wall securely in place around the cavity.

The sides of the walls D are provided with openings f, through which the ball or balls are projected, the openings being so disposed in relation to each other that the openings in the opposite sides of the wall will be diagonal to each other, as shoun in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This arrangement of the openings f with relation to each other, as above described, prevents the ball, when projected through one of the openings, from passing out through the opening in the opposite side of the wall. Vere the openings directly opposite each other in the two opposite sides of the wall, the liability of the ball would be to pass through both openings to the outside of the wall, thereby spoiling the shot of the player, the shoulder o of the cavity 0 not bein g sufficient to prevent the course of the ball when projected with any great force.

The upper surface of the board A may be covered with a suitable cloth, as shown at g, Fig. 2 of the drawings, and cut away to pre sent the bare surface of the board, as shown at h, and on this surface are formed depressions 'i of any desirable number to correspond with the number of balls E that are to be used in the game. These depressions conform to the convexity of the balls and are of just sufficient depth to hold the balls in position and allow them to be projected therefrom when playing the game.

A single ball, as shown at F, is employed, which I term a roving-ball that remains on the board and is larger than the openings f of the wall D, so as not to pass through the same, which ball all other balls must first strike before being projected through the opening in the wall, which is one of the essential features of the game that renders it interesting to the player.

In commencing the game the large ball F, which is termed the roving or object ball, is placed in position on the board where indicated by the numeral 5, such position the ball always assuming previous to the game being commenced, and all the balls E resting in the depressions 1' at the four points on the board. Each set of balls which are assigned to the players are of different colors to designate them from each other, and the position of each set being marked on the board by the numerals 1 2 3 4. The first player, who is assigned to the set designated by the numeral 1, commences the play by projecting the first ball in a direction toward the roving or obj eot ball F for the purpose of striking it. Should the player strike ball F it would entitle said 7 object of which would be to project the ball E through one of the openings f in the wall D. If the player fails in projecting the ball E through one of the openings f the play will be ended and the next player proceeds in like manner, but if the player should succeed in projecting the ball E through the opening in the wall the ball has completed its mission of the game and rests in the cavity 0, and the player would be entitled to another play. The successful player now returns to the starting-point and projects the next succeeding ball with the same object in view as the ball previously played with. Should any of the players fail to'strike the roving or object ball F at any time, the play is ended until the next turn of the player, but the player must strike the roving or object ball first with each ball played before said ball is free to be played for the openings in the wall D. The player who first succeeds in depositing all the balls (comprising the set to which said player has been assigned) in the cavity C is the winner of the game.

lVith this game many successful and interesting plays may be made in the way of so propelling the ball played upon as to have it strike the roving or object ball as well as the balls played upon by any of the opponents, thereby driving the balls in position detrimental to the interests of said opponents, yet greatly to the advantage of the person making the play.

It should be understood that the ball when first played with is projected'from the position it occupies in the depressions 2', and any suitable device may be used to project the ball forward, such as a piece of whalebone or spring metal or any other means found best adapted to the purpose.

The board may be of any suitable size, marbles being preferably used for the balls, and the material from which the board, band, and the wall around the cavity are formed may be changed, as found most desirable, the material from which the parts are constructed not entering into the essential features of the invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A game apparatus comprising asuitable board having a central space surrounded by a continuous wall, said wall having openings through its sides, two ormore lines of depressions formed in the surface of the board, a plurality of balls adapted to rest in the depressions and of a size to pass through the openings in the wall, and a large roving or object ball of greater size than the openings in the wall, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A game apparatus comprising a circular board having an upwardly-extending flange or rim around its edge, a central cavity in the board,a continuous wall around the same having openings in its sides, two or more lines of depressions formed in the surface of the board, a' plurality of balls adapted to rest therein, and a roving or object ball of increased size, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A game apparatus comprising a suitable board having a flange or rim as shown, a central cavity formed in the surface of the board to present a shoulder around its sides, a wall inclosing the cavity and having openings through its sides and having an overhanging flange around its upper edge and headed pins for securing and holding the wall in place, two or more sets of balls of a size to pass through the openings in the wall, and a roving or object ball of increased size, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A game apparatus comprising a suitable board having two or more lines of depressions, a plurality of balls adapted to rest therein, a large roving or object ball, a central space on the board surrounded by a wall having openings through the sides thereof, the openings in the opposite sides of the wall being diagonal to each other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. A game apparatus comprising a circular board having a band secured around the edge thereof and projecting above the same to form a flange or rim, the edge of the band being bent upon itself as shown, a central space surrounded by a continuous wall, said wall having openings which are diagonal to each other at the opposite sides thereof, two or more lines of depressions formed in the surface of the board, a plurality of balls adapt-ed torest therein, and a large roving or object ball against which the other balls are projected, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A game apparatus comprising a circular board having an upwardly-projecting flange or rim around its edge, a central shouldered cavity, a wall surrounding the same having openings through its sides, said openings in the opposite sides of the wall being diagonal to each other, two or more lines of depressions formed in the surface of the board, a plurality of balls adapted to rest therein and of a size to pass through the openings in the wall, a roving or object ball of a greater size than said openings, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. MORRIS.

W'itnesses A. O. RAwLINes, Wu. H. DE LACY. 

